De impactor device

ABSTRACT

Spring wire devices inserted between maxillary and mandibular molars for separating impacted molars by crimping an activating loop portion of the device projecting at an angle to separating arms inserted between the teeth. The separating arms are interconnected with the activating loop by deflector formations adapted to bridge the space between the teeth and retain the device in place until removed.

United States Patent Pool [ Sept. 24, 1974 DE IMPACTOR DEVICE [76] Inventor: Horace E. Pool, 406 W. 26th St.,

North Little Rock, Ark. 72114 [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1973 21 Appl No.: 387,652

[52] US. Cl. 32/64 [51] Int. Cl. A6lc 7/00 [58] Field of Search 32/14 E, 14 A, 64, 40 R [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 600,257 3/1898 Capwell 32/64 2,897,598 8/l959 Kesling 32/64 3,052,029 9/1962 Wallshein 32/l4 E Primary ExaminerRobert Peshock Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harvey B. Jacobson 5 7 ABSTRACT Spring wire devices inserted between maxillary and mandibular molars for separating impacted molars by crimping an activating loop portion of the device projecting at an angle to separating arms inserted between the teeth. The separating arms are interconnected with the activating loop by deflector formations adapted to bridge the space between the teeth and retain the device in place until removed.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DE IMPACTOR DEVICE This invention relates to'a device for separatingteeth and more particularly to the separation of impacted molars.

A spring wire device :that is inserted between adjacent teeth and crimped by means of a tool after insertion in order to exert separating forces on-the adjacent teeth, is disclosed in my prior ULS. Pat.f'No. 3,664,023,

issued May 23, 1972. This 'patentedzdeviceis designed to separate teeth for the purpose of installing orthodontic bands about the-teeth. A somewhat different problem exists with respect to separating-impacted molars. Although use of a tool-crimped spring wire type ofseparator may be desirablelfor impacted molarseparation, tool insertion, wire crimping 'and'wire retention problems make the prior patented device .unsuitable. Accordingly, it is a primary object of thepresent invention toprovide a novel wire'separating device of'theaforementioned type that deals with theproblemspeculiar to separationof impacted molars.

In accordance with 'the present'invention, an elongated spring wire-includes spaced separating arms that curve outwardly in a .common plane from closely spaced terminal end loops. The opposite ends of the separating arms are more widely spaced so as to span the molars between buccalandilingual sides,.and.are connected to deflector formationsithat .extendtoward each other from thearmsQ-The deflectors areinterconnected by an activating loop-which extendsrat'an obtuse angle to the common plane of the separating arms-so as to accommodate engagement thereof by a tool above the impacted 'molar to insert .the-;dev-ice and crimp the same along a bridging portion of the activating loop. When crimped by the tool, deformation of the activating loop. causes displacement of the terminal loops inserted between-the teeth at the gingiva embrasure, into laterally overlapping relationship to each other resulting in-thetapplication ofseparatingforces on the teeth inmesial anddistal directions. The deflector formations are also displaced into overlapping relation to holdthe inserted device in place. The device is subsequently removed from the patientsmonth by cutting of the activating loop.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent'reside in' the details of construction and operation as morefully hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming-apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to likepartsthroughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the wire separator device of the present invention-priortoinsertion.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device after being deformed.

FIG. 3' is a side sectional view showingthe device inserted.

FIG. 4 is a -top section view taken substantially through a plane indicated bysectionline 44- in FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the device being crimped after insertion.

FIG. 6 is a toprsection view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6--6 in'FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side section viewshowing the.device. installed and retained in place.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates in enlarged scale, the wire de-impactor 10 of the present invention prior to being inserted. The device 10 is made of a single length of spring wire of a suitable diameter that is bent into the configuration shown which includes a pair of spaced separating arms 12. The arms arecurved and formed with'terminal loops 14 at ends closely spaced from each other so as to present smooth,

confronting curved surfaces adapted to be inserted between adjacent teeth without damage to gingival tissue. The separating arms extend from the terminal loops in coplanar relation to each other relative to a'common adapted to be deformed with a crimp 22 as shown in FIG. 3. When so deformed, the activating loop causes displacement of the deflector formations l6 and termi- -nal loops 14 into overlapping relation to each other laterally of the common plane of the separating arms as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the device 10 is shown inserted between an impacted molar 24 and an adjacent molar 26.

The device is inserted by grasping the activating loop between the'beaks of a pliers 28 shown bydotted lines 'in'FIG. 3 and pressing one terminal loop 14 into the gingival embrasure 30 on either the buccal or lingual side and then rolling the device over the occlusal embrasure while pressing gingivally until the other terminal loop is engaged in the gingival embrasure on the .other side of the teeth. Once the device is inserted, a

three'beaked clasp tool 32, as shown in dotted line in .FIG. 5, is applied to the activating loop which overlies the impacted tooth 24 inview of its angular relationship to the separating arms 12. A crimp 22 is thereby .applied to the activating loop causing displacement of the terminal loops 14 to the laterally overlapping positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 resulting in separating forces being exerted mesially and distally on the adja- .cent molars. Also, the deflector formations l6 overlap laterally at the occlusal embrasure to hold and retain the device in place. The activating loop may then be folded into the occlusal plane as shown in FIG. 7 and the device retained in the patients mouth for six to eight weeks depending on the degree of impaction and the age of the patient. By cutting the projecting activating loop, the device may be removed in parts from the ,patients mouth.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desiredto limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A device adapted to'be inserted between adjacent teeth for separating the same, comprising a pair of spaced separating arms extending in substantially coplanar relation to each otherprior to deformation, terminal means respectively carried by said arms and adapted to be inserted between said adjacent teeth on buccal and lingual sides thereof respectively, a pair of deflectors extending toward each other from said arms and spaced from terminal means, deformation responsive, activating means interconnecting the deflectors and extending therefrom at an angle to the separating arms for displacement of the deflectors and terminal means into laterally overlapping relationship to each other to exert separating forces on the adjacent teeth.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said device is formed from a single length of elongated wire.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said deflectors bridge the separating arms in response to deformation of the activating means to retain the device in place by occlusal contact with said teeth.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said activating means comprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimping for effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said teeth are molars and/or bicuspids, one of which is impacted.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said deflec tors bridge the separating arms in response to deformation of the activating means to retain the device in place by occlusal contact with said teeth.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said activating means comprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimping for effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth, i

8. The combination of claim I wherein said activating meanscomprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimpingfor effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth. v

9. A device adapted to be inserted between adjacent teeth for separating the same comprising an elongated wire having a pair of spaced separating arms disposed in coplanar relation to a common plane, said arms being formed with terminal loops at ends closely spaced from each other, deflector formations extending toward each other from ends of the arms more widely spaced from each other in said common plane,

and an activating loop interconnecting the deflector formations and extending therefrom at an obtuse angle to said common plane, said activating loop having a deformable bridging portion responsive to crimping for causing displacement of the deflector formations and the terminal loops into overlapping relationship laterally of said common plane. 

1. A device adapted to be inserted between adjacent teeth for separating the same, comprising a pair of spaced separating arms extending in substantially coplanar relation to each other prior to deformation, terminal means respectively carried by said arms and adapted to be inserted between said adjacent teeth on buccal and lingual sides thereof respectively, a pair of deflectors extending toward each other from said arms and spaced from terminal means, deformation responsive activating means interconnecting the deflectors and extending therefrom at an angle to the separating arms for displacement of the deflectors and terminal means into laterally overlapping relationship to each other to exert separating forces on the adjacent teeth.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherEin said device is formed from a single length of elongated wire.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said deflectors bridge the separating arms in response to deformation of the activating means to retain the device in place by occlusal contact with said teeth.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said activating means comprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimping for effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said teeth are molars and/or bicuspids, one of which is impacted.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said deflectors bridge the separating arms in response to deformation of the activating means to retain the device in place by occlusal contact with said teeth.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said activating means comprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimping for effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said activating means comprises a deformable activating loop responsive to crimping for effecting said displacement of the deflectors and the terminal means relative to each other and folded into occlusal contact with one of the adjacent teeth.
 9. A device adapted to be inserted between adjacent teeth for separating the same comprising an elongated wire having a pair of spaced separating arms disposed in coplanar relation to a common plane, said arms being formed with terminal loops at ends closely spaced from each other, deflector formations extending toward each other from ends of the arms more widely spaced from each other in said common plane, and an activating loop interconnecting the deflector formations and extending therefrom at an obtuse angle to said common plane, said activating loop having a deformable bridging portion responsive to crimping for causing displacement of the deflector formations and the terminal loops into overlapping relationship laterally of said common plane. 